Sep 30, 2010 - Sale 2223

Sale 2223 - Lot 61

Price Realized: $ 2,640
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 2,000 - $ 3,000
ORIGINAL ORDERS FROM FREDERICKSBURG AND CHANCELLORSVILLE (CIVIL WAR.) Small archive of 6 war-related letters and notes to General Darius Couch. Various sizes and conditions, ranging from 3 x 5 inches to 8 x 5 inches; most have small mount remnants on verso, and all but one bear postwar signatures or inscriptions by Couch. Vp, 1862-63 and undated
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Additional Details

Major General Darius Nash Couch (1822-1897) was an important figure in the Union army. These six wartime notes from Couch's personal files were given by him after the war to his former adjutant general, Francis Amasa Walker. They include signed notes by Hooker and Meade, and shed light on the battles of Williamsburg, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville.
Taylor, Joseph Hancock. On the eve of the Battle of Fredericksburg, Taylor relays a detailed order from General Sumner to attack: "You will extend your right so far as to prevent the possibility of the enemy's occupying the upper part of the town. You will then form a column of a division for the purpose of pushing in the direction of the Plank and Telegraph roads for the purpose of siezing the heights in rear of the town. . . ." Autograph Letter Signed. Couch has docketed this letter "8:15 a.m., Fredericksburg, Dec. 12--Sumner's order for the 2d Corps to attack. Was suspended by another order, 10 1/2 a.m., Gen. Couch." Couch's men took the town of Fredericksburg later that day, but the brutal main battle began the following morning. Headquarters of the Right Grand Division near Falmouth, [VA], 12 December 1862

Walker, Francis Amasa. Passes on a report from Col. Rippey that the rear of the division has been stalled, and Parker "has thrown away 50000 rounds of ammunition or thereabouts." With signed gift inscription from Crouch on verso, noting "I think that this despatch was written between Old Point and Williamsburg." This would place the note during the bungled pursuit of the retreating Confederates after the fall of Yorktown. Np, [May 1862?]
Fry, James Barnet. Informs Couch that Francis Walker has been appointed as his adjutant general with rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Washington, 28 January 1863. Inscribed on verso with a long signed gift inscription from Couch to Walker, Norwalk, CT, 16 March 1882
Williams, Seth. "The commanding Gen does not care about your movement to U S Ford being kept secret from the enemy. He wishes you to march today & by the best road, he also wishes to know what road you have repaired.'' Manuscript telegraph message. Banks Ford, 25 April 1863
Hooker, Joseph. Short hasty Autograph Note Signed, reading in full: "Maj Gnl Couch will move to the position to be pointed out to him by the bearer, Joseph Hooker, Maj Gen Cmg." Couch's signed note on verso sates that the note dated from Chancellorsville. Np, [May 1863]
Meade, George G. Short signed note on Second Army Corps letterhead reading in full "Those medical officers must establish hospitals held for the wounded & they must be carried along the best way we can until we can dispose of them. Geo. G. Meade." Np, nd